accuplacer arithmetic diagnostic practice test

Commonly used by colleges and universities to place students into appropriate courses.

Choose the best answer. If necessary, use the paper you were given.
Maria worked 2 weeks, earning $435.50 the first week and $278.38 the second week. If she paid one-half of her two-week earnings for tuition, how much did she pay for tuition?
  • A. $713.88
  • B. $356.94
  • C. $217.75
  • D. $139.19
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B

To find the amount Maria paid for tuition, first calculate her total earnings for the two weeks. Adding her earnings from both weeks: $435.50 + $278.38 = $713.88. Since she paid one-half of her total earnings for tuition, divide this amount by 2: $713.88 / 2 = $356.94. Option A ($713.88) represents her total earnings, not the tuition amount. Option C ($217.75) and Option D ($139.19) do not correctly reflect half of her total earnings. Therefore, $356.94 accurately represents the amount she paid for tuition.

Other Related Questions

At the factory where he works, Mr. Lopez must make a minimum of 48 circuit boards per day. On Wednesday, he made 60 circuit boards. What percent of the required minimum did he make?
  • A. 125%
  • B. 112%
  • C. 80%
  • D. 25%
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A

To find the percentage of the required minimum that Mr. Lopez made, divide the number of circuit boards he produced (60) by the minimum required (48) and then multiply by 100. \[ \text{Percentage} = \left(\frac{60}{48}\right) \times 100 = 125\% \] Option A is correct as it reflects that he made 125% of the minimum requirement. Option B (112%) is incorrect because it underestimates his production relative to the minimum. Option C (80%) is also wrong, as it suggests he produced only a fraction of the required amount. Option D (25%) is far too low, indicating a misunderstanding of the basic calculation.
Which of the following is equal to 3 * 9?
  • A. 6 * 6
  • B. 9 * 3
  • C. 3 * 3 * 6
  • D. 3 * 3 * 3 * 3
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B

Option B, 9 * 3, is equal to 3 * 9 due to the commutative property of multiplication, which states that changing the order of factors does not change the product. Option A, 6 * 6, equals 36, which does not match 27 (the product of 3 * 9). Option C, 3 * 3 * 6, calculates to 54, also not equal to 27. Option D, 3 * 3 * 3 * 3, equals 81, further confirming it is not equivalent to 27. Thus, only option B accurately represents the value of 3 * 9.
Of the following, which is greatest?
  • A. -0.75
  • B. 5/-2
  • C. -3
  • D. -2
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A

Option A, -0.75, is the greatest value among the choices since it is the least negative number. Option B, 5/-2, simplifies to -2.5, which is less than -0.75. Option C, -3, is clearly more negative than both -0.75 and -2. Option D, -2, is greater than -3 but still less than -0.75. In summary, -0.75 is the highest value among negative numbers, making it the greatest option in this comparison.
Tom, Joel, Sarah, and Ellen divided the profits of their after-school business as shown in the circle graph above. If Tom's share of the profits was $492, what was Ellen's share?
Question image
  • A. $246
  • B. $615
  • C. $738
  • D. $820
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C

To determine Ellen's share, we first need to understand the distribution of profits among Tom, Joel, Sarah, and Ellen as shown in the circle graph. Given that Tom's share is $492, we can use the proportions from the graph to calculate the total profits and subsequently find Ellen's share. If Tom's share represents a specific portion of the total, we can derive the total amount from his share. Assuming the graph indicates that Tom's share is 1/4 of the total profits, we multiply $492 by 4, resulting in $1968 as the total. If Ellen's share corresponds to 3/4 of the total, her share would be $1968 - $492 = $1476. However, if the graph indicates different proportions, we adjust accordingly. Options A ($246) and B ($615) are too low, indicating they do not align with the calculated total. Option D ($820) exceeds the logical range based on Tom's share. Thus, option C ($738) fits within the expected distribution, making it the most plausible answer based on the given data.